I ask because Strava‘s recent heatmap release (Fitness tracking app Strava gives away location of secret US army bases) is being used as a platform to urge unpaid consideration of government and military interests by data scientists.
Consider Ray Crowell‘s Strava Heatmaps: Why Ethics in Design Matters which presumes data scientists have an unpaid obligation to consider the interests of the military:
From the post:
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These organizations have been warned for years (including by myself) of the information/operational security (specifically with pattern of life, that is, the data collected and analyzed establish an individual’s past behavior, determine their current behavior, and predict their future behavior) implications associated with social platforms and advanced analytical technology. I spent my career stabilizing this intersection between national security and progress — having a deep understanding of the protection of lives, billion-dollar weapon systems, and geopolitical assurances and on the other side, the power of many of these technological advancements in enabling access to health and wellness for all.Getting at this balance requires us to not get enamored by the idea or implications of ethically sound solutions, but rather exposing our design practices to ethical scrutiny.
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These tools are not only beneficial for the designer, but for the user as well. I mention these specifically for institutions like the Defense Department, impacted from the Strava heatmap and frankly many other technologies being employed both sanctioned and unsanctioned by military members and on military installations. These tools are beneficial the institution’s leadership to “reverse engineer” what technologies on the market can do by way of harm … in balance with the good. I learned a long time ago, from wiser mentors than myself, that you don’t know what you’re missing, if you’re not looking to begin with.
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Crowell imposes an unpaid ethical obligation any unsuspecting reader/data scientist to consider their impact on government or military organizations.
In that effort, Crowell is certainly not alone:
If you contract to work for a government or military group, you owe them an ethical obligation of your best efforts. Just as for any other client.
However, volunteering unpaid assistance for military or government organizations, damages the market for data scientists.
Now that’s unethical!
PS: I agree there are ethical obligations to consider the impact of your work on disenfranchised, oppressed or abused populations. Governments and military organizations don’t qualify as any of those.